ChatterBank1 min ago
Abracadabra!
5 Answers
Where does this word come from? and what does it actually mean?
Jem
Jem
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My answer doesn't seem long enough to be rejected, but it hasn't been accepted, so here it is in two parts...
The word first appeared in a poem by the Roman writer, Quintus Severus Sammonicus, during the second century AD. There are various theories as to its origin. It may have come from the Greek, ‘abrasadabra', which was itself a corruption of Abraxas, a god worshipped by the followers of a mystic called Basilides. It may also be related to the mystical Jewish kabbalah, in which the three words ‘ab' = father, ‘ben' = son and ‘Acadsch' = divine spirit...ie Father, Son and Holy Ghost...appear together. That sounds, as ‘abenacadash', quite like ‘abracadabra'.
(cont)
The word first appeared in a poem by the Roman writer, Quintus Severus Sammonicus, during the second century AD. There are various theories as to its origin. It may have come from the Greek, ‘abrasadabra', which was itself a corruption of Abraxas, a god worshipped by the followers of a mystic called Basilides. It may also be related to the mystical Jewish kabbalah, in which the three words ‘ab' = father, ‘ben' = son and ‘Acadsch' = divine spirit...ie Father, Son and Holy Ghost...appear together. That sounds, as ‘abenacadash', quite like ‘abracadabra'.
(cont)
(cont)
Inscribed on a charm worn around someone's neck, these supposedly had magical powers, especially to cure illness. A third possibility is that it came from Aramaic, the language of early Christianity. In that, "A'abra K'Da'abra" translates as "I will create as I will speak." (In Arabic, apparently, the sound-sequence ‘abracadabra' means "let the things be destroyed", which is virtually exactly the opposite!) There is no certainty as to where the word originated, so take your pick from the above possibilities. (Or from Wikipedia as above, if you like!)
Inscribed on a charm worn around someone's neck, these supposedly had magical powers, especially to cure illness. A third possibility is that it came from Aramaic, the language of early Christianity. In that, "A'abra K'Da'abra" translates as "I will create as I will speak." (In Arabic, apparently, the sound-sequence ‘abracadabra' means "let the things be destroyed", which is virtually exactly the opposite!) There is no certainty as to where the word originated, so take your pick from the above possibilities. (Or from Wikipedia as above, if you like!)
Quizmaster & Samak thankyou for taking the trouble to explain.
It came about because our chairman at the club bought us drinks & because its unusual for him to do so someone said "abracadabra" as if it was a magic trick he had performed.
Then someone else said "I wonder where that word comes from etc"
So I said I'll ask AB, & yes I know I could have Googled it but its nice to have contact with you lovely helpful people. Thanks again.
jem
It came about because our chairman at the club bought us drinks & because its unusual for him to do so someone said "abracadabra" as if it was a magic trick he had performed.
Then someone else said "I wonder where that word comes from etc"
So I said I'll ask AB, & yes I know I could have Googled it but its nice to have contact with you lovely helpful people. Thanks again.
jem
1 to 5 of 5
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